Three carrier mechanism



May 16, 1939. c GOOD 2,158,497

THREE CARRIER MECHANISM Filed Nov. 9, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l y 1939' F.c. GOOD 2,158,497

THREE CARRIER MECHANISM Filed NOV. 9, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 16,1939. QGQQD 2,158,497

THREE CARRIER MECHANI SM Filed Nov. 9, 1935 5 Sheets Sheet 3 9/5561? are %/ZW2 MM May 16, 1939. c, 5009 2,158,497

THREE CARR IER MECHANI SM Filed Nov. 9, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 16,1939. F. c. GOOD THREE CARRIER MECHANISM Filed Nov.

Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THREE CARRIER MECHANISM Frederick 0. Good, Philadelphia, Pa. ApplicationNovember 9, 1935, Serial No. 49,087 1301mm. (01. 66-127) This inventionprimarily relates to mechanism for producing what is commonly referredto in the knitting art as ringless hosiery" or threecarrier work, thatis, a full-fashioned stocking or other knitted fabric wherein three mainknitting threads of which the fabric is composed aredrawn from threeseparate cones or other thread supplies, which are all of the same kindand quality, and are fed to the needles in predetermined order orsuccession in the production of the I110- cessive courses of stitches ofwhich the fabric is formed.

It is generally known in the art, at the present time, that thread silkvaries in diameter or thickl5 ness at various places throughout thelength of any one thread. When such a thread is knit into immediatelysucceeding courses, it frequently happens that one of the thicker orthinner portions of the thread, as the case may be, will be 20 ofsufllcient length to form two or more successive and interiooped coursesof stitches, which results in the formation of rings or shadows in thestocking or other fabric. This condition has been corrected to a greatextent by'knitting each of 25 three separate threads into but a singlecourse at any one time. In so doing, the uneven portions of the variousthreads are distributed throughout the body of the fabric and the ringor shadow effect is thereby offset to such an ex- 30 tent that it is notapparent in the finished product. Each thread is controlled by anindividual thread carrier bar and various mechanisms have been employedfor selectively connecting the individual carrier bars to the frictioncarrier bar 5 drive mechanisms of full-fashioned hosiery knittingmachines. These carrier bar selecting and coupling mechanisms have, inthe past, been either of a complicated or unreliable character.

The object of the present invention is to pro- 40 vide a three-carrieroperating mechanism which is simple in construction and reliable inoperation. The construction and operation of the mechanismforming thesubject of the present invention will be fully disclosed hereinafter,ref- 45 erence being had to the accompanying drawings;

of which:

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional elevation of sufllcient of afull-fashioned hosiery knitting machine to illustrate the application ofthe mech- 50 anism of the present invention thereto;

Fig. 2 is a plan view looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation or end view of the mechanismtaken on the line 3-3,

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on the line 4-4, Fig.3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 5-5, Fig.2;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional elevation taken 6 on the line 6-6, Fig.2;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line '|1, Fig.2;

Fig. 8 is a detached perspective view of the carrier bar selecting anddriving or coupling elel0 ments; I

Figs. 9 to 19 inclusive are diagrammatic plan views of three of thecarrier bars of the machine and illustrating the sequence of operationsof the carrier bar selecting and driving elements; and

Figs. to inclusive are diagrammatic views of the carrier bar selectingand driving elements in the various positions assumed in selecting andoperating the carrier bars in the manner shown in Figs. 9 to 19inclusive. 20

In Fig; 1 of the drawings, one of the cross frames of a conventionalfull-fashioned hosiery knitting machine is illustrated at ii. The backcenter bed of the machine is illustrated at l2. One of the bearingbrackets for the back nar- 25 rowing shaft l3 of the machine isillustrated at M. This bearing bracket, as usual, is provided with anextension l5 which provides support for the friction box drive rod I6 ofthe machine. The bracket extension [5 also provides support for afriction box guide rod H which extends parallel to the drive rod [6throughout the length of the machine. Extending parallel to the driverod I6 is the usual slur cock bar l6.

Secured to the back center bed I! is a series of brackets I9 havingtransversely extending heads 20 in which are slidably mounted the usualthread carrier bars I to 8 inclusive of the knitting machine.

The friction box drive rod I6 and the slur 4o cock bar l8, as isgenerally known in the art, are simultaneously reciprocatedlongitudinally of the machine through the usual Coulier motion (notshown).

'Mounted on the friction box drive rod I6 is a series of friction boxeseach provided with a slide or arm or equivalent means by which thevarious friction boxes may be operatively connected to the threadcarrier bars I to 8 respectively, whereby the thread carrier bars willreceive longitudinal reciprocation for laying thread to the needles ofthe machine (not shown) for the formation of successive interioopedcourses of stitches.

. The extent of longitudinal movement of the bars I to 8 is governed bythe usual end stops 66 of the machine (not shown), whereby the widthtions 53 into the grooves 33 and distributing of the fabric produced isgoverned in the usual manner.

The mechanism forming the subject matter of the present inventioncomprises a special friction box 25 which is mounted on the friction boxdrive rod |3 in the usual manner, said friction box being provided withthe usual friction leathers carried by the usual shoes arranged in theinterior of the friction box and adapted to be connected to or loosenedfrom the friction box drive rod by the manipulation of a handle 23 inthe usual manner. 4

Secured to each of the opposite ends of the friction box 25, in thepresent instance, is a split collar, illustrated at 21 and 23respectively. These collars are mounted on circular axial extensions 23of the friction box 25 and are clamped in definite position thereon bytap bolts 33, 33. The collars 21-and 23 are provided with forwardlyextending arms 3|, 32 respectively. Mounted in the arms 3| and 32 andprojecting inwardly toward each other are sleeves or bushings 33 and 34respectively. Mounted in the sleeves 33 and 34 is a hollow shaft 35.Centrally disposed von the shaft 35, between the arms 3| and 32, is apair of laterally or axially spaced wheels 31 and 33 which function asselectors and driving or coupling elements for the carrier rods l, 2'and 3, in the present instance, as will be hereinafter described.

The wheels 31 and 33 are respectively carried by and fixedly secured tohub members 33 and 43 respectively. Integrally formed with or connectedto the hubs 33 and 43 respectively are' ratchet wheels 4| and 42. Alsosecured to the hub elements 33 and 43 are index wheels 43 and 44respectively.

Fixed to or formed integral with the inner ends of the sleeves 33 and 34respectively are detent brackets 45 and 43, each of which is providedwith a radially extending cylindrical portion 41 and 43 respectively. Asshown in Fig. 6, each of these cylindrical extensions has a bore 43 inwhich is slidably mounted a detent plunger 53. between which and a plugscrew 5| at the outer end of said bore is a spring 52 by which thedetent 53 is yieldingly pressed and held in peripheral notches 53 of theindex wheels 43 and 44, as the case may be.

The sleeves 33 and 34, and consequently the detent cylinders 31 and 33carried thereby, may be adjusted axially and angularly for the purposeof leveling the selecting or coupling wheels 31 and 33 with respect tothe carrier rods I, 2 and 3, said sleeves being locked in their adjustedpositions by set screws 55 and 53 respectively, which are threaded intothe arms 3| and 32, and as shown in Fig. 2.

The opposite ends of the hollow shaft 35 are provided with nuts 51 and53 respectively which bear against the outer ends of the sleeves 33 and34 respectively, whereby wear and axial play between said sleeves andthe selector wheel hub elements 33 and 43 may be taken up.

The shaft 35 is perforated radially and circumferentially grooved asindicated at 53 and 33 to provide for lubrication of the various workingelements mounted on said shaft, said lubrication passing through thehollow center of the shaft 35 from any suitable grease or oil supply(not shown) but which may be connected to the threaded ends 3| and/or 32of the shaft 33, said lubricant passing through the perforaalong theouter operating'surface of the shaft 35.

Mounted for oscillation on the sleeves 33 and 34 respectively betweenthe arms 3| and 32 and the detent brackets 45 and 43 are the hubs 33 and34 of pawl carriers which include arms 35 and 33 formed integral withthe hub 33 and 34 and having extensions projecting axially over the endof said hubs across the detent wheels 43 and 44 and ratchet wheels 4|and 42.

The sleeves 33 and 34 may be perforated to permit lubrication for thepawl carrier hubs 33 and 34 from the hollow shaft 35.

Pivotally mounted on the ends of the overhanging portions 31 and 33 ofthe pawl carrier arms 34 and 33 are pawls 39 and 13 which cooperate withthe ratchet wheels 4| and 42 respectively for moving the carrier rodselector wheels 31 and 33 alternately and step-by-step end clamped inthe extension 31 or 33 of the pawl carriers 33 and 34 as the case may beby means of clamp plates 13 and 14 as illustrated in Figs. 2, 4 and 6.

Alternate step-by-step rotation of the selector and drivingwheels 31 and33 is effected in the present instance by and from the slur cock bar I3,it being understood that as the friction box drive rod l3 and slur cockbar |3 reciprocate and with them move one or more of the thread carrierbars I to 3 the movement of the carrier bars is limited by the abovenoted end stops of the machine which arrest the carrier rods andconsequently the friction boxes to which these carrier rods areconnected. The slur cock bar and the friction drive rod |3, however,continue to move longitudinally after stoppage of the carrier bars, andit is this relative movement between the slur cock bar and the frictionbox in the present instance which is utilized to effect the selectingmovements of the wheels 31 and 33 after the carrier rods have come torest at the ends of their strokes.

As shown in Fig. 1, the slur cock bar is provided with brackets orstandards 15 which are secured to the slur cock bar by any suitablemeans, such as bolts 13. The upper ends of the brackets 15 support a camelement 11, said cam element being secured to the bracket 15 in anysuitable manner, such as by tap screws 13.

As shown in Fig. 4, the cam 11 is provided adjacent its opposite endswith tapered or inclined cam paths 13 and 33 respectively. It will beunderstood that through the greater part of the movement of the frictionbox 25 and slur cock bar l3, the cam 11 and the friction box 25 movetogether, at the same rate of speed. Then, as the carrier bar which isconnected to the friction box 25 is stopped by one of the end stops, the

slur cock bar l3 and the cam 11 carried thereby move relative to thefriction box 25 and in so doing the cam paths 13 and 33 alternatelyengage cam rollers 3| and 32 respectively. These cam rollers 3| and 32are rotatably mounted on the lower ends of levers 33 and 34, said leversbeing pivotally mounted on a pivot rod or studs 35 supported by lugs 33and 31 formed on the collars 21 and 23 respectively.

The opposite ends of the levers 33 and 34 are connected by links 35 and33 to levers 31 and 33 formed on or carried by the hubs of the pawlcarriers 83 and 88 respectively, so that when the cam 11 moves in onedirection, for example to the right as viewed in Fig. 4, the cam surface80 will engage the cam roller 82 and through the lever 84 and link 88operate the pawl carrier 64 which in turn will rotate the selector wheel88 one step which, in the present instance, is a movement of 60 aboutthe axis of the shaft 85.

When the cam 11 moves in the opposite direction relative to the frictionbox 25, the cam surface 18 will engage the cam follower 8| on the lever83 and rock said lever which in turn will effect a 60 rotation of theselector wheel 31.

Return of the levers 83 and 84 to positions to be engaged by the cam 11is efiected by springs 88 and 98, the position of the cam followers 8|and 82 being determined by the levers 83 and 84 contacting with the bodyof or some abutment on or carried by the friction box 25.

As shown in Figs. 5, 6, 8 and 20 to 25 inclusive, the selector wheels 31and 38 are of a general hexagonal contour, and, as shown in Figs. 1 and3, the axis of rotation of these wheels is directly above andsubstantially in the plane of the center of the carrier bar No. 2.

Each of the carrier bars I, 2 and 3 is provided with a driving dog la,2a and 3a respectively, said dogs being of a length substantially equalto the distance between the inner opposed faces of the selector drivingwheels 31 and 38, Just a suflicient clearance being permitted betweenthe ends of the dogs and the inner opposed surfaces of the wheels toallow for the rotation of the wheels relative to the dogs for selectingpurposes. However, at such time as any one of the dogs is positionedbetween said opposed surfaces of said wheels to connect the carrier barto the friction box 25 for driving movement of the carrier bar, thisclearance is not sufficiently great to allow any appreciable amount ofrelative longitudinal movement of the bar with respect to the wheelsbetween which the dog is gripped, thus providing for accuratecontrolling and positioning of the carrier bars with respect to theneedles and sinkers of the machine at the ends of the respective strokesof the carrier bars.

Each of the wheels 31 and 38 is provided with a pair of diametricallyopposed radial dog-clearing notches or openings 31a, 31a formed inopposed parallel fiat perimeter surfaces 31b, 31b of said wheel anddiametrically opposed radial dogclearing notches or openings 31c, 31cdisposed at right angles to the dog-clearing notches 31a, 31a. andlocated at corners formed by the intersection of two adjacent flatperimeter surfaces 31b, 31b of the hexagonal wheel, which provides aplurality of solid dog-engaging portions or lugs 31d, 31d'alternatingwith the flat surface and corner dog-clearing notches or openings 31aand 310.

The wheel 38 is correspondingly formed with fiat surfaces 38b, 38bprovided 'with median dogclearing notches or openings 38a, 38a, cornernotches or openings 38c, 38c and intermediate dog-engaging lugs 38d,3811..

Normally one of the flat surfaces 31? and 38b of the wheels 31 andv 38lie in a common plane parallel to and spaced above the plane of the topsurfaces of the carrier bars I to 8 inclusive, as illustrated in Figs. 1and 3, and one of the solid portions or dog-engaging lugs 31d or 38d ofone of the wheels 31, 38 is at all times in overlapping relationlto oneof the lugs of the other wheel and one of the dog-clearing spacesadjacent thereto, as will be clear in the following description of theoperation of said wheels.

It will be understood that each of the carrier bars i, 2, 8, etc.isprovidedwithanumberofthread guides, one for eachknitting head in themachine, and when the driving dogs of the carrier bars are positioned atthe left, as in Fig. 9, the thread guides carried by such bars aredisposed at the left hand selvage of each stocking or other piece offabric being knit, as determined by the left hand end stops of themachine,. and that when the driving dogs are at the right, as viewed inFig. 9, the thread carriers on those particular bars are disposed at theright hand salvage of each stocking or fabric piece being knit, asdetermined by the right hand end stops of the machine.

Fig. 9 illustrates the dogs Ia and 3a of the bars I and 3 respectivelyat the left hand side and the dog 2a of the bar 2 at the right handside. Fig. 20 illustrates the relation of the wheels 31 and 88 as viewedfrom the left in Fig. 9. One of the dogengaging lugs 31d of the wheel 31is in engagement with the left hand end of the dog la of the bar I, andextends across the carrier rod 2, one of the corner dog-clearingopenings 31c being aligned with the dog 30. of the bar 3. One of thedog-engaging lugs 38d of the wheel 38 is disposed at the opposite sideof the dog la of the bar I and another of the dog-engaging lugs 38d ofthe wheel 38 is disposed at the corresponding side of the dog 3a of thebar 3 with a median dog-clearing opening 38a between said lugs disposedin alignment with the bar 2.

Taking the set-up of Fig. 9 as a starting point in the cycle ofoperations of the wheels 31, 33 and bars I, 2 and 3, the first movementof the friction box 25 would be to the right, as indicated by the arrowin Fig. 9. The dog la. of the bar I being held between the wheels 31 and38 would be correspondingly moved to the right from the position shownin Fig. 9 to the position shown in Fig. 10, wherein the portion ofthelug 31d of the wheel 31 which overlaps the dog-clearing opening 38a ofthe wheel 38 comes in contact with the inner end of the dog 2a of thebar 2, insuring that said bar is in contact with the right hand end stopof the machine and properly aligned'with and between the wheels 31 and38. As above noted in Fig. 9, one of the median dogclearing openings 38aof the wheel 38 is aligned with the carrier bar 2 so that in themovement of the wheels 31 and 38 from the position shown in Fig. 9 tothat shown in Fig. 10, the wheel 38 is enabled to pass the dog 2a on thecarrier bar 2 and thereby permit the dog to be engaged by the lug 31d ofthe wheel 31. as noted.

With the wheels in the position shown in Figs. 10 and 20 and the bars Iand 2 against the right hand end stop of the machine, the continuedmotion of the slur cock bar 18 causes the cam 11 to effect a one-steprotation of the wheel 38 from the position shown in Fig. 20 to thatshown in Fig. 21, while the wheel 31 retains its position shown in Figs.9 and 20, whereby the lug 38d moves out of alignment with the dog Iainto alignment with the dog 2a. and extends over the bar 3, asillustrated in Fig. 11, one of the corner dog-clearing openings 38cmoving into alignment with the right hand end of the dog la.

The slur cock bar [8, the friction box drive rod l6 and the friction box25 then move slmultaneously to the left, as indicated by the arrow inFig. 11, the dog 20. of'the bar 2, being held between the solid lugs 31dand 38d of the wheels 31 and 38 respectively move with the friction box25 in the direction of the arrow II, from the position shown in Fig. 11to the position shown in Fig. 12. During this shift to the left thecorner dog-clearing opening 3Ic of the wheel 31 clears the dog 30 of thebar 3 and the solid each other and with and between the wheels 31 and 33for a subsequent rotary shifting of the wheel 31 by the cam II as aresult of the excess movement of the slur cock bar over that of thefriction box 25 as determined by the carriers 2 and 3 contacting withthe left end stops of the machine.

The wheel 31 during the last-mentioned rotary shifting thereof movesfrom the position shown in Figs. 12 and 20 to the position shown inFigs. 13 and 22, while the wheel 33 retains its position of Fig. 21.This shifting of the wheel 33 aligns one of the median dog-clearingopenings 31c with the left hand end of the dog 2a of the carrier bar 2and moves one of the adjacent lugs 31d into alignment with the left handend of the dog 3a. and the other of the adJacent lugs 31d into alignmentwith or overhanging relation to the carrier rod I, as shown in Fig. 13.

The next movement of the slur cock bar and friction box drlverod to theright moves the carrier bar 3 to the right from the position shown inFig. 13 to the position shown in Fig. 14, after which the wheel 38 isshifted from the position shown in Fig. 21 to that shown in Fig. 23,bringing a solid lug 33d into alignment with the dog Iaand overhangingthe bar 2 with one of the dog-clearing openings 38c in alignment withthe dog 3a of the bar 3.

The wheels 31 and 33 when next moved by the friction box 23 to the left,as illustrated in Fig. 15, carrying the dog I a and the bar I from theposition shown in Fig. 15 to that shown in Fig. 18, wherein a lug 33d ofthe wheel 30 contacts the inner end of the dog 2a and moves the bars Iand 2 into contact with the end stops at the left hand end of themachine and aligns the dog 20 with the dog Ia for a shift of the wheel31.

The wheel 31 then shifts from the position shown in Fig. 22 to thatshown in Fig. 24 which causes a lug 31d of the wheel 31 to align withthe left hand end of the dog 2:; and to overhang the bar 3, an opening31c in the wheel 31 being brought into alignment with the dog In of thebar I.

The friction box 25 and consequently the wheels 31- and 33 then move tothe right, as indicated in Fig. 17, from the position shown in Fig. 17to that shown in Fig. 18. After arriving at this position, the wheel 38is again shifted from the position shown in Fig. 23 to that shown inFig. 25, causing one of the lugs 31:! to move into alignment with theright hand end of the dog In and another lug 31d to move into alignmentwith the bar I and positioning one of the openings 310 in alignment withthe right hand end of the dog 2a.

The friction box 23 and wheels 31 and 33 next move to the left asindicated in Fig. 19, carrying the dog 30 and the bar 3 from theposition shown in Fig. 19 to that shown in Fig. 9 for a repeat of thecycle.

Fruntheabovaitwillbeclearthatthethread carrier bars I, 2 and 3 are movedsuccessively in a predetermined order so that the threads controlledthereby are laid to the needles of the knitting machine once in theformation of each three courses of stitches in the single or severalfabrics being made on the machine.

From the above description. it will be clear also that the carrier barsare under definite control of the wheels 31 and 38 at the time theselection is made and during the full stroke of each bar after it isselected for laying thread to the needles.

It will also be obvious from the above description that the mechanism isof very simple nature and that it is sturdy of construction and notliable to breakage nor requiring any special attention during the normaloperation of the knitting machine as the selection of the bars is madeentirely automatic.

As previously noted, the friction boxes of flat knitting machines,particularly those employed in the making of full-fashioned hosiery, areheld in definite relation to the bars I to 3 inclusive against rotarymotion about the axis of the friction box drive rod I6 by a yoked lug oneach of the friction boxes embracing a guide rod II which, as noted,extends parallel to the drive rod I6. In the present instance, and inorder to provide operating space for the special friction box 25, onesection of the guide rod I! between a pair of the supporting brackets Iis removed and a special guide rod I la provided in offset relation tothe rod II. The special section lid is supported from and by the ends ofthe rods II or by the brackets I5 through supplementary brackets IIb.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the friction box 25 is provided with a pairof rearwardly extending arms 9i and 32 respectively. These arms or asingle arm may be carried directly by the body of the friction box 25,or, as in the present instance, by the split collars 3I and 32. In thepresent instance, the arms 9i and 32 are provided with shoulders 93which engage the under side ofthe guide bar Ila and thus prevent theweight of the mechanism disposed over the carrier bars- I to 3 fromeffecting a rotary movement of the friction box 26 about the axis of thedrive rod I, thus maintaining a pair of the flat perimeter surfaces 3ld,33d, of the wheels 31 and 3| respectively in the above noted parallelrelationship to the plane of the upper surfaces of the bars I to I.

In order to prevent upward movement of the wheels from the carrier barsin the present instance, the arm 32 slidably supports a latch 94' whichprojects outwardly over the upper surface of the guide bar "a, asclearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. v

If atany time it is desired to use the carrier bars I, 2 and 3 in theordinary manner, that is, without selective successive operationsthereof, the friction box 25 and all of the selecting mechanism carriedthereby may be rotated upwardly about the axis of the rod I 8 byretracting the latch 34, after which release of the latch and subsequentprojection thereof would cause the upper surface of the latch to engagethe under surface of the guide bar I'Ia, thus retaining the wheels 31and 33 in an elevated inoperative position. By this movement of thefriction box 25, the cam followers II and 32 are likewise swung out ofalignment with the cam 11 to an inoperative position.

Retraction and projection of the latch 94 is eiiected in the followingmanner:

The latch is slidably mounted in a guideway 95 formed in the arm 92 andis provided with a laterally extending pin 86 which projects through anelongated slot 9'! formed in the side of the guideway 95. The outerprojecting end of the pin 96 is engaged by one end of a lever 98, theopposite end of said lever being in the form of a handle I00 projectingoutwardly over the top of the friction box 25. The lever 98 is pivotallymounted at 99, between a pair of lugs 10!, IN formed on the split collar28 and a spring I02 having one end connected to the lever 98 and itsopposite end connected to the split collar 20 tends to maintain thelatch 04 in its projected state at all times.

I claim:

1. The combination in a fiat knitting machine of a plurality oflongitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars, driving dogs on said barsrespectively, driving means for said bars operable parallel thereto andincluding a pair of rotary laterally spaced elements adapted forindependent rotation and each provided with a plurality of dog-engaginglugs and intermediate dog-clearing spaces, and means for alternatelyactuating said elements intermittently for aligning predetermined lugsand spaces thereof with predetermined dogs on said bars for selectivelycoupling said bars to said driving means.

2. The combination in a fiat knitting machine of a plurality oflongitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars, a friction box drive rodand a slur cock bar longitudinally reciprocal parallel to said carrierbars, a friction box guide rod parallel to said drive rod, a frictionbox mounted on said drive rod, a pair of rotary elements carried by saidfriction box and respectively provided with a plurality of carrier barengaging lugs and intermediate carrier bar clearing spaces, ratchetingmechanism carried by said friction box for intermittently rotating saidrotary elements for selectively coupling said carrier bars to saidfriction box, a cam carried by said slur cock bar for actuating saidratcheting mechanism, and manually operable means carried by saidfriction box and engageable with said guide rod for maintaining saidfriction box and the rotary elements thereon in either an operative orinoperative position relative to said carrier bars.

3. The combination with a device adapted for driving a plurality oflongitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars of a flat knittingmachine, of a pair of rotary elements carried by said driving device,each of said elements being adapted for independent rotation and havinga plurality of carrier bar engaging lugs and intermediate bar clearingspaces, and mechanisms, one for each of said elements and carried by thedriving device for intermittently rotating said elements to bring inalternating succession the lugs thereof into carrier bar engagingposition for selectively coupling said bars to said driving device.

4. The combination with a device adapted for driving a plurality oflongitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars of a flat knittingmachine, of a pair of rotary elements carried by said driving device,each of said elements being adapted for independent rotation and havinga plurality of carrier bar engaging lugs and intermediate bar clearingspaces, ratchet mechanisms, one for each of said elements and carried bythe driving device for intermittently rotating said elements, and a camadapted for reciprocation parallel to, with, and in excess of saiddriving device to actuate alternatively said mechanisms to bring inalternating succession the lugs of said elements into carrier barengaging position for selectively coupling said bars to said drivingdevice.

5. The combination with a device adapted for driving a plurality oflongitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars of a flat knittingmachine, of a pair of rotary elements carried by said device, each ofsaid elements being adapted for independent rotation and having aplurality of bar engaging lugs and intermediate bar clearing spaces, amechanism for each rotary element and carried by said driving device forintermittently rotating said elements, and means operable independent ofsaid driving device for alternatively actuating said mechanisms tobring.

in alternating succession the lugs of said elements into carrier barengaging position for selectively coupling said bars to said drivingdevice.

6. The combination with a device adapted for driving a plurality oflongitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars of a flat knittingmachine, of a pair of rotary elements carried by said driving device,each of said elements being adapted for independent rotation and havinga plurality of bar engaging lugs and intermediate bar clearing spaces, amechanism for each rotary element and carried by said driving device forintermittently rotating said elements, and a cam adapted for operationparallel to, and concurrently with, and in excess of said driving devicefor alternatively actuating said mechanisms to bring in alternatingsuccession the lugs of said elements into carrier bar engaging positionfor coupling said bars to said driving device.

'7. The combination with a device adapted for driving a plurality oflongitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars of a flat knittingmachine, of

a pair of rotary elements carried by said device, each of said elementsbeing adapted for independent rotation and having a plurality of barengaging lugs and intermediate bar clearing spaces, a mechanism for eachrotary element and carried by said driving device for intermittentlyrotating said elements, means operable independent of said drivingdevice for alternatively actuating said mechanisms to bring inalternating succession the lugs of said elements into carrier barengaging position for selectively coupling said bars to said drivingdevice, and means for selectively maintaining said rotary elements inoperative or inoperative relation to said carrier bars.

8. The combination with a device adapted for driving a plurality oflongitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars of a flat knittingmachine, of a pair of rotary elements carried by said device, each ofsaid elements being adapted for independent rotation and having aplurality of bar engaging lugs and intermediate bar clearing spaces, amechanism for each rotary element and carried by said driving device forintermittently rotating said elements, means operable independent ofsaid driving device for alternatively actuating said mechanisms to bringin alternating succession the lugs of said elements into carrier barengaging position for selectively coupling said carrier bars to saiddriving device, and means for selectively maintaining said drivingdevice in operative or inoperative relation to said carrier bars. a v

9. The combination in a flat kntting machine of a plurality oflongitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars, a friction box drive rodlongitudinally reciprocal parallel to said carrier bars, a friction boxmounted on said drive rod, a pair of rotary elements carried by saidfriction box and adapted for independent rotation, each of said elementshaving a plurality of carrier bar engaging lugs and intermediate carrierbar clearing spaces, and a ratcheting mechanism for each rotary elementand carried by said friction box for intermittently rotating said rotaryelements to bring in alter- 'nating succession the lugs thereof intocarrier bar engaging position for selectively coupling said carrier barsto said friction box.

10. The combination in a flat knitting machine of a plurality oflongitudinally reciprocal thread carrier bars, a friction box drive rodand a slur cock bar longitudinally reciprocal parallel to said carrierbars, a friction box mounted on said drive rod, a pair of rotaryelements carried by said friction box and adapted for independentrotation, each of said elements having a plurality of carrier barengaging lugs and intermediate carrier bar clearing spaces, a ratchetmechanism for each rotary element and carried by said friction box forintermittently rotating said rotary elements to bring in alternatingsuccession the lugs thereof into carrier bar engaging position forselectively coupling said carrier bars to said friction box, and a camcarried by said slur cock bar for alternatively actuating saidratcheting mechanisms.

11. In combination with the carrier bars, friction box, and slur bar ofa full-fashioned knitting machine, carrier bar driving means carried bysaid friction box and including a pair of independently rotatableelements each having relatively spaced means engageable with the carrierbars, and a mechanism for each of said elements for their relativeindependent rotation and operable to selectively bring the means of saidelements into carrier bar engagin and disengaging positions for couplingsaid driving means with said carrier bars for the selective operationthereof, said mechanisms being operated alternatively and periodicallyby said slur bar.

12. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, the combination of a pluralityof carrier bars and a reciprocating friction box, means including a pairof rotary elements longitudinally movable with, and transversely movablerelative to said friction box for selective operative engagement withany of said carrier bars, and an actuating device comprising ratchetmechanisms, one for each of said elements for rotating the sameindependently of each other, and an element bodily reciprocablyshiftable longitudinally of the machine and independently of saidfriction box for alternatively transmitting an actuating impulse to saidmechanisms to eilfect the selective operative engagement of saidelements with the carrier bars.

13. The combination in a flat knitting machine of a plurality oflongitudinally reciprocable thread carrier bars, driving dogs on saidbars respectively, driving means for said bars operable parallel theretoand including a pair of rotary laterally spaced elements adapted forindependent rotation and including a plurality of dog-engaging lugs andintermediate dog-clearing spaces relatively arranged so that eachelement may alternately be positioned to engage and clear said carrierbar driving dogs for holding and freeing the carrier bars, and means foralternately actuating said elements intermittently for the rotation ofone element to place a lug and a space thereof in position for engagingthe dog of one carrier bar and clearing the dog of the other carrier barwhile said carrier bars are held by 9, lug of the remaining element.

FREDERICK C. GOOD.

